The Cognitive Science Program at Michigan State University is seeking
graduate student applicants for its new NSF-funded Integrated Graduate
Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program in cognitive science.
The focus of the MSU IGERT program is the interdisciplinary study of
cognition in humans, animals, and intelligent machines. Unifying the
program is an emphasis on sequential decision-making problems, where the
ultimate outcome of a proximate decision may be assessed only after a
series of related decisions have been taken, and where there may be
considerable uncertainty about the appropriate course of action. We believe
that this framework applies to a great many cognitive problems faced by
both biological and artificial agents, and that the use of a common
framework will deepen theoretical insights into the nature of
decision-making. We offer trainees opportunities to pursue research in
active vision, language, navigation, and coordination of action in social
groups, among other topics. The program is designed to complement and
extend the training provided within students' home disciplines by stressing
integration of computational modeling with empirical study of human and
animal systems.
IGERT Trainees are awarded a generous support package consisting of a
yearly stipend for 5 years, tuition waiver, and health benefits. Trainees
are also eligible for research and travel funds to supplement resources
available through their home departments and their advisors' labs. The
program also offers opportunities for undergraduate students and post-docs.
Michigan State University has made a major commitment to cognitive science,
including the allocation of up to 6 new cognitive science positions in five
participating colleges for cognitive neuroscience and computational
approaches to cognition, additional institutional resources for graduate
student stipends and research funds to complement the IGERT funds, and new
office and lab space for the IGERT program.
Further information can be found at: http://www.cogsci.msu.edu/IGERT/ and
inquiries can be directed to infocogsci.msu.edu.